New Crowdfunding Site Supports Greenwich Nonprofits

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The Impact Vine, which launched in May, is an online giving platform which allows donors to support projects they care about, and provides a platform for local nonprofits to use as a tool to raise funds for socially impactful projects in the community.

This initiative has been founded and incubated by The Community Fund of Darien with support from sixteen “Founding Funders,” located across lower Fairfield Country, including Fairfield County’s Community Foundation, Social Venture Partners, and Lone Pine Capital. The concept for the crowdfunding site resulted from a 2014 needs-assessment which identified online giving as key to growth for nonprofit agencies.

“We are thrilled to introduce The Impact Vine,” said The Community Fund of Darien Executive Director, Carrie Bernier. “The Impact Vine is one-stop shop platform that links individuals and companies with nonprofits to help meet local needs. Pick a project that resonates with your giving values and support it! The best part is that this initiative is local, so once people find a project they care about, they can learn more, donate, and then volunteer,” she continued.

New Canaan resident Susan Serven, Project Director of The Impact Vine, noted, “Another terrific aspect of The Impact Vine is that it’s a simple way for anyone to raise funds for nonprofit projects they care about. The Impact Vine’s simple interface allows nonprofit staff to develop a project, but also allows volunteers, student groups, supporters, other individuals to “Create a Project” as well! We invite everyone to participate, visit the site, create a project supporting an organization you’re passionate about, and share with others!”

Shedd Glassmeyer, Chair of The Impact Vine Committee, noted, “The Impact Vine promotes and builds awareness of the critical work nonprofits do, right in our backyards. Many of us bank, shop, and even socialize online, so we’re more likely to give online. It’s the place to go to help solve social issues in our community. We trust that everyone will get behind this platform, support the projects and consider providing an optional donation to The Impact Vine to ensure that the site will be self-funding,” he said.

“We’ve been able to launch with the support of local businesses and donors. This is a great corporate giving tool and a way to promote employee giving. We hope others will see the possibility of leveraging a gift to help grow a giving tool that will pay off for years to come,” Glassmeyer continued.

Bobby Merrick, Greenwich resident and trustee of the France-Merrick Foundation, said, “Giving is evolving. More people are looking for proactive ways to make a greater impact when solving social problems. The Impact Vine helps facilitate targeted giving in an effective way, with measurable results.”

Bill Brucker, Family Centers, Greenwich, noted that “The rising popularity of crowdfunding is certainly creating a shift in donor preferences – particularly amongst the younger generations as they develop their own philanthropic interests. What sets The Impact Vine apart from other online giving platforms is its ability to create a central marketplace that showcases the most critical needs of our community. By doing so, donors are not only able to support their favorite nonprofits, but they’re also tuned into the great work of other local organizations.”

The Impact Vine is an online giving platform that allows donors to support the projects they are passionate about, and local nonprofits to raise funds for socially impactful projects in our community. The Impact Vine is an initiative founded by The Community Fund of Darien a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation.

The Community Fund of Darien is an independent, results-oriented, volunteer-driven nonprofit organization that addresses health and human services needs in Darien and our surrounding towns of Stamford and Norwalk. We are dedicated to building a healthy community by:

  • Identifying and prioritizing critical local needs
  • Strategically investing funds to meet local goals
  • Measuring results and evaluating effectiveness
  • Fundraising cost effectively
  • Fostering collaborative efforts to identify solutions to local needs

For more information on The Impact Vine, please visit TheImpactVine.org

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